The coronavirus pandemic has made life tough for everyone. However, businesses across real estate, hospitality and food service have been stepping up to try to make it all a bit more tolerable. EG takes a look at some of the initiatives under way.
LaSalle Investment Management
LaSalle has identified more than 100 car parking spaces at the Galleries in Bristol, which it will make available to NHS workers for free.
Savills is working with other clients to find out whether similar measures can be implemented across the UK.
First Base
Mixed-use developer First Base is doing what it can to support the community in Bristol, where it is bringing forward the £175m Soapworks scheme.
The company has offered its office as premises to a local food bank. Its community engagement officers, which were previously visiting residents at home to discuss the Soapworks plans, are returning to elderly and vulnerable people to offer to collect their shopping.
SIOR
The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, a global body for office and industrial real estate professionals, has created a dedicated website to help put non-profit organisations in touch with agents quickly, and on a no-fee basis.
Called the Community Assistance and Relief in Emergencies (CARE) programme, non-profits can engage with SIOR by sharing contact information on the webpage.
From there, organisation members within the appropriate geographical region will be quickly notified of the request and will be able to provide advice, contacts, or if applicable, direct the request to property owners.
Hammerson
Hammerson is considering how to use its flagship shopping centres and car parks to support key workers and the local community, and is aiming to progress this early next week.
To keep colleagues engaged and motivated internally, it has introduced support and entertainment including: asking colleagues to be guest DJs and compile music playlists; organising virtual exercise classes led by colleagues, including yoga and HIT; and virtual Friday team drinks.
Hotel Football
Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are temporarily closing the two Manchester hotels they own to allow NHS staff to use them free of charge.
The duo are shutting the Hotel Football at Old Trafford and the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester from 22 March to allow healthcare workers to use rooms to rest in between shifts.
John Lewis Partnership
John Lewis Partnership has set up a £1m community support fund to be distributed by Waitrose shops to local communities, and protected shopping time for the elderly and the vulnerable.
The group is also exploring offering online classes and advice from its partners to customers who are having to self-isolate at home. These could include craft classes and advice for expectant parents.
Best Western
Best Western is expected to turn a hotel in south London into a hospital support site next week, to house lower-risk patients and NHS staff.
The hotel operator has said it is in talks with a number of NHS hospitals and local authorities around the country, on providing accommodation for NHS staff, care workers, lower-risk patients and vulnerable people.
Other hotel chains thought to be involved in discussions on similar initiatives include Hilton, Holiday Inn, Travelodge and Whitbread’s Premier Inn brand.
Pret a Manger
Pret and Itsu are among several dining chains offering big discounts to NHS workers. Both Pret and Itsu are offering free hot drinks, plus 50% off everything else it sells. Pizza Hut and Leon are each offering 50% off food.
Publove
Ben Stackhouse, founder of hostel chain PubLove, is seeking to make backpacker hostels available to the NHS for workers to use for free. He has requested more information on how to progress this on social media. PubLove has locations in Paddington, London Bridge, Battersea, Euston and Waterloo.
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